Zurab Abashidze: Restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia unacceptable for Georgia at this stage

Photo ITAR-TASS / Sergey Karpov

PRAGUE, September 20 (Itar-Tass) - The restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia is in principle unacceptable for Georgia at this stage, Georgian prime minister’s special representative Zurab Abashidze told Itar-Tass on Friday after a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin.

“Right now, this is unacceptable in principle, for us it would mean the recognition of the so-called new realities,” Abashidze said. “Georgia cannot do this.”

“Our country was falling apart not once, but we have lived to this day,” he added. “I think that we will see a lot more in our lifetime.”

Abashidze also said that Georgia’s participation in the Sochi Olympics in 2014 was “an uneasy decision” for Tbilisi.

“We have politicians who criticize it, but we do not want to mix politics with sports,” said the representative of the prime minister. “We want the Olympic Games to pass peacefully and quietly, without incidents.”